River Road(23)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“No, not yet,” Lucy said. “He’ll want proof. In my experience, the cops and the courts prefer a nice chain of evidence.”

“In your experience?” Deke asked.

“A large part of my job with Brookhouse Research consists of gathering solid evidence to prove or disprove the claims of a lost or missing heir. Trust me, that requires a clear trail, because there is usually a lot of money at stake. People are always willing to fight very hard in court to get their hands on hard cash.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Deke said. “Folks get killed on the street for a few bucks or a little dope. No telling what they’d do for a cut of a multimillion-dollar inheritance.”

“It’s true I don’t deal in gunshot residue and blood-spatter patterns,” Lucy said. “But I have to track down things like birth, marriage and death certificates that can be used to build a family tree that might go back several generations. I use immigration and census records. Draft registration records. Military service papers. Property records and wills and trusts and so on. Believe me, I know what it takes to build a case.”

Mason glanced at the yellow pad. He did not look impressed. “And that’s what you’re going to try to do here in Summer River?”

“Yes.” Lucy pulled the yellow pad closer in a protective gesture. “In my line, it always comes down to the family.”

Deke narrowed his eyes. “Given that the family you’re dealing with controls a fortune—not to mention a lot of what goes on in this town—it might be a good idea to keep your little theory just between the three of us, at least for now.”

“Don’t worry, I intend to do just that.” Lucy collected the yellow pad and her tote. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got things to do.”

“Where are you going?” Mason asked.

“Got a big day today. First I have to get ready for our interview with Chief Whitaker, and then I go shopping.”

“You want to shop?”

“For something to wear tonight. I didn’t bring any evening clothes with me. I need to find out what wine-country casual means. Enjoy your coffee, gentlemen.”

She went briskly toward the door, but she was not quite out of earshot when she heard Mason’s low-voiced comment to Deke.

“Damn,” he said softly. “This is going to get complicated.”

“No kidding,” Deke said. “I think we just got stuck with the check.”

12

It’s impossible to describe wine-country casual,” Teresa Vega announced. “But around here you know it when you see it. The look covers a lot of territory, especially when it comes to women’s wear. Think elegant, laid-back chic—expensive elegant, laid-back chic. You want to look as if you were born to the vineyard life, as if your family has been in wine for generations.”

“You know the rule,” Lucy said. “You can’t go wrong with a little black dress. I’ve got several in my closet at home. Too bad I didn’t bring one with me.”

“There’s an exception to every rule. Wine-country casual happens to be the exception to the little-black-dress rule.”

“I am putting myself into your hands, Teresa.”

Lucy studied the artfully displayed clothes that filled Teresa’s Closet, a small, colorful boutique just a block away from the inn. Teresa had recognized Lucy the minute she walked through the door. Her delight at the reunion had been genuine. Her condolences had been sincere.

Lucy had been surprised by the little burst of warmth that she had experienced when she and Teresa exchanged hugs. It had, after all, been thirteen years since they had last seen each other. Teresa had been Teresa Alvarez in those days.

Part of the bond between Teresa and herself that last summer had hinged on the fact that both of them had been excluded from the cool-kids list. But they had other things in common as well. Teresa’s parents had also separated. Although Lucy’s folks had split up three years earlier, she had still been grappling with the fallout. Teresa had been able to offer some pragmatic teenage advice. The first and most useful bit had been Don’t waste your time hoping your folks will get back together. That’s just a fantasy for little kids. The second Teresa saying had proven equally valid: Don’t bother asking them why they got divorced. They’ll tell you everything but the truth. Lucy remembered asking, “What is the truth?” To which Teresa had replied with clear-eyed wisdom, “One of them got tired of being married to the other and started sleeping with someone else.” That, too, had proved to be true.

Thirteen years ago, Teresa had been a shy teen with big brown eyes and glasses. She’d had an obsession with fashion and design, and had spent hours online studying the latest trends and style blogs. Even on the limited allowance her struggling single mother had provided, she’d had a knack for looking put-together. Today she appeared effortlessly chic and casually elegant in a way that was somehow just right for the proprietor of a clothing boutique in wine country.

“The wine country doesn’t do little black dresses,” Teresa said. “If you show up at the Colfax reception in a black dress you’ll stand out like a tourist.”

“I’m getting the impression that is not considered a good thing.”

“Well, it does imply you are not a local. And while it’s true that you were not born and raised here, you’ve still got deep roots in Summer River.”

“Those roots are not in the wine industry. Aunt Sara owned an apple orchard, remember?”

“So what? It’s not like the Colfaxes have several generations of wine-making in the blood, either. Their money comes from a hedge fund. Everyone around here knows the winery is just a hobby for Warner Colfax.”

Lucy smiled. “You don’t think Quinn and Jillian have an interest in making fine boutique wines with the Colfax name on the label?”

“Good question, actually. They don’t care about the wine, but they do enjoy playing the role of wine-country socialites. So does the second Mrs. Warner Colfax, by the way. You did hear about the divorce, didn’t you?”

“Mason mentioned it.”

“Rumor has it that Quinn was furious when his father dumped his mother for a woman who is younger than Quinn,” Teresa said.

“Second and third marriages usually don’t sit well with the offspring of the first marriage. I can personally testify to that truism. Also, I see a lot of family drama based on that dynamic.”